Before Reading

A Days Wait
Short Story by Ernest Hemingway

Is it
86A>;DGC>6
R3.3 Analyze characterization as
delineated through a characters
thoughts, words, speech patterns,
and actions; the narrators
description; and the thoughts, words,
and actions of other characters.
Also included in this lesson: W1.2
(p. 475), W1.3 (p. 475), LC1.4 (p. 475)

466

brave

to suffer in silence?
KEY IDEA Whether from an injury or a broken heart, everyone
suffers at times. Some people try hard to keep their pain to
themselves, while others believe it is better to share their
thoughts and feelings with others. In A Days Wait, a young
boy tries to be brave while suffering from an illness.
QUICKWRITE Do you consider it an act of bravery to face pain on
your own, or does it take more courage for you to open up to other
people? In a journal entry, explain your answers to these questions.

86A>;DGC>6

literary analysis: style

Style is a writers unique way of communicating ideas. It
is often not only what writers say but how they say it that
gives stories meaning and makes them memorable. To
identify a writers style, focus on these elements:
Word choice, or the authors choice of language.
Hemingway strives to use vivid verbs and precise nouns
rather than using many adjectives and adverbs.
Sentence structure and variety. In this story, Hemingway
often uses long sentences for descriptions and short
sentences when characters are talking.
Dialogue, or conversations between characters. Hemingway
relies heavily on realistic dialogue as a method of
characterization.
As you read A Days Wait, notice how these elements help
create Hemingways unique writing style.

reading skill: understand dialogue

Characters reveal much about themselves by what they
say or dont say. When reading dialogue, note that
each speakers words are framed by quotes
the line is indented when someone new is speaking
As you read A Days Wait, keep track of whos speaking by
using a chart like the one shown.
Line

Speaker

Whats the matter, Schatz?

narrator

vocabulary in context
Each of the boldfaced terms reflects Hemingways word
choice in A Days Wait. How many of these words do
you know? Try to figure out the meaning of each.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

People were there, but he felt detached from them.

There is a serious flu epidemic this winter.
He had slack muscles from lack of exercise.
It was evidently too much for him to deal with.
The man observed a covey of partridges.

An Adventurous Life
Ernest Hemingway
lived a life full of
adventure. He
was one of a
group of writers
called the Lost
Generation. These
writers rejected
what they saw
Ernest Hemingway
as an American
18991961
focus on acquiring
many possessions. Along with
being one of Americas most famous
writers, Hemingway was a fisherman,
a hunter, and a fan of bullfighting.
He participated in both world wars.
Many of his works are based on his
experiences in Europe and Cuba.
An Influential Style Hemingway
and other Lost Generation writers,
including F. Scott Fitzgerald and
Sherwood Anderson, expressed their
ideas in writing styles that were new
and different. Hemingways writing
style, particularly his method of writing
dialogue, has influenced many other
writers. He is one of the most often
imitated writers of the 1900s.
Fact Becomes Fiction Like much
of Hemingways writing, A Days
Wait is based on actual events in
Hemingways life. While Hemingway
was living in France, his son came
down with a high fever and reacted
similarly to the boy in the story you
will read.
more about the author
For more on Ernest Hemingway,
visit the Literature Center at
ClassZone.com.

a days wait

467

a days wait
e r n e s t h e m i n g way

10

e came into the room to shut the windows while we were still
in bed and I saw he looked ill. He was shivering, his face was
white, and he walked slowly as though it ached to move.
Whats the matter, Schatz?1
Ive got a headache.
You better go back to bed.
No. Im all right.
You go to bed. Ill see you when Im dressed. a
But when I came downstairs he was dressed, sitting by the fire, looking
a very sick and miserable boy of nine years. When I put my hand on his
forehead I knew he had a fever.
You go up to bed, I said, youre sick.
Im all right, he said.
When the doctor came he took the boys temperature.
What is it? I asked him.
One hundred and two.

ANALYZE VISUALS
Consider the expression
on this boys face. What
mood does it convey?

a DIALOGUE

Reread the dialogue in

lines 48. Notice that
Hemingway does not
always tell the reader
who is speaking. Use
your chart to keep
track of the different
speakers.

1. Schatz (shts): German term of affection meaning my treasure, used here as a nickname.

468

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

Contemplation (1930), Alice Kent Stoddard. Oil on canvas.

20

30

40

Downstairs, the doctor left three different medicines in differentcolored capsules with instructions for giving them. One was to bring
down the fever, another a purgative,2 the third to overcome an acid
condition. The germs of influenza can only exist in an acid condition,
he explained. He seemed to know all about influenza and said there was
nothing to worry about if the fever did not go above one hundred and
four degrees. This was a light epidemic of flu and there was no danger
if you avoided pneumonia.
Back in the room I wrote the boys temperature down and made a note
of the time to give the various capsules.
Do you want me to read to you?
All right. If you want to, said the boy. His face was very white and
there were dark areas under his eyes. He lay still in the bed and seemed
very detached from what was going on.
I read aloud from Howard Pyles Book of Pirates;3 but I could see he was
not following what I was reading.
How do you feel, Schatz? I asked him.
Just the same, so far, he said.
I sat at the foot of the bed and read to myself while I waited for it to
be time to give another capsule. It would have been natural for him to
go to sleep, but when I looked up he was looking at the foot of the bed,
looking very strangely.
Why dont you try to go to sleep? Ill wake you up for the medicine.
Id rather stay awake.
After a while he said to me, You dont have to stay in here with me,
Papa, if it bothers you. b
It doesnt bother me.
No, I mean you dont have to stay if its going to bother you. c
I thought perhaps he was a little lightheaded and after giving him
the prescribed capsules at eleven oclock I went out for a while.

I
50

t was a bright, cold day, the ground covered with a sleet that had frozen
so that it seemed as if all the bare trees, the bushes, the cut brush, and
all the grass and the bare ground had been varnished with ice. I took the
young Irish setter for a little walk up the road and along a frozen creek,
but it was difficult to stand or walk on the glassy surface and the red dog
slipped and slithered and I fell twice, hard, once dropping my gun and
having it slide away over the ice. d

2. purgative (prPgE-tGv): laxative.

3. Howard Pyles Book of Pirates: a collection of tales about real and fictional pirates,
very popular when it was published in the 1920s.

470

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

epidemic (DpQG-dDmPGk)
n. an outbreak of a
disease that spreads
quickly among many
people

detached (dG-tBchtP) adj.

separated; disconnected
detach v.

STYLE
Reread lines 4142.
Hemingway reveals
the narrator through
dialogue. What does
this tell you about
his style?

c DIALOGUE

Use your chart to track

the speakers in the
dialogue in lines 2744.

STYLE
Do the words
Hemingway uses to
describe the setting
convey a positive or
negative atmosphere?
Explain.

ANALYZE VISUALS
How does this painting
convey the passing
of time?

60

We flushed a covey of quail under a high clay bank with overhanging

brush and I killed two as they went out of sight over the top of the
bank. Some of the covey lit in trees, but most of them scattered into
brush piles and it was necessary to jump on the ice-coated mounds of
brush several times before they would flush. Coming out while you were
poised unsteadily on the icy, springy brush, they made difficult shooting
and I killed two, missed five, and started back pleased to have found a
covey close to the house and happy there were so many left to find on
another day.

covey (kOvPC) n. a small

group or flock of birds,
especially partridges
or quail

a days wait

471

70

80

90

100

t the house they said the boy had refused to let anyone come into
the room.
You cant come in, he said. You mustnt get what I have.
I went up to him and found him in exactly the position I had left him,
white-faced, but with the tops of his cheeks flushed by the fever, staring
still, as he had stared, at the foot of the bed.
I took his temperature.
What is it?
Something like a hundred, I said. It was one hundred and two and
four tenths.
It was a hundred and two, he said.
Who said so?
The doctor.
Your temperature is all right, I said. Its nothing to worry about.
I dont worry, he said, but I cant keep from thinking.
Dont think, I said. Just take it easy.
Im taking it easy, he said and looked straight ahead. He was
evidently holding tight onto himself about something.
Take this with water.
Do you think it will do any good?
Of course it will.
I sat down and opened the Pirate book and commenced to read,
but I could see he was not following, so I stopped.
About what time do you think Im going to die? he asked.
What?
About how long will it be before I die?
You arent going to die. Whats the matter with you?
Oh, yes, I am. I heard him say a hundred and two.
People dont die with a fever of one hundred and two. Thats a silly
way to talk.
I know they do. At school in France the boys told me you cant live
with forty-four degrees. Ive got a hundred and two.
He had been waiting to die all day, ever since nine oclock in the morning.
You poor Schatz, I said. Poor old Schatz. Its like miles and
kilometers. You arent going to die. Thats a different thermometer. On
that thermometer thirty-seven is normal. On this kind its ninety-eight.
Are you sure?
Absolutely, I said. Its like miles and kilometers. You know, like how
many kilometers we make when we do seventy miles in the car?
Oh, he said.
But his gaze at the foot of the bed relaxed slowly. The hold over himself
relaxed too, finally, and the next day it was very slack and he cried very
easily at little things that were of no importance. 

472

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

evidently (DvPG-dEnt-lC)
adv. obviously; clearly

SCIENCE
CONNECTION

On the Celsius scale,

water freezes at 0 and
boils at 100. On the
Fahrenheit scale, water
freezes at 32 and boils
at 212.

slack (slBk) adj. not firm

or tight; loose

After Reading

Comprehension

86A>;DGC>6

1. Recall Why does the boy think he is going to die?

2. Clarify Why does the father spend the afternoon hunting instead
of staying with his worried son?
3. Summarize How does the story end?

R3.3 Analyze characterization as

delineated through a characters
thoughts, words, speech patterns,
and actions; the narrators
description; and the thoughts,
words, and actions of other
characters.

Literary Analysis
4. Understand Dialogue Look over the dialogue chart you created as you read.
At which points do the father and son not seem to understand each other?
5. Analyze Characterization In what ways does the boy show concern for
others? Does he reveal his concern through thoughts, words, or actions?
Do the narrators descriptions or other characters thoughts, words, and
actions help you see the boys concern? Give examples from the text to
support your answer.
6. Draw Conclusions Why does the boy cry so much the next day?
7. Make Judgments Do you think the boys actions
show bravery? Why or why not? Support your
answer with examples from the story. Use
a diagram like the one shown to record your
support. Use line numbers when referring to
parts of the story.

Boys Action

What It Says
About Him

8. Identify Style Reread lines 6583. Note Hemingways word choice,

sentence structure, and use of dialogue. Why is this passage a good
example of Hemingways style? Explain your answer, using evidence
from the passage.

Extension and Challenge

9. Creative Project: Drama Most of this story is told through dialogue
between the father and son. With a partner, choose one of their
conversations to act out. Use details from the scene to accurately
portray the characters. Practice on your own, and then present the
dialogue to the class.
10. Readers Circle With a small group, discuss what clues the story gives you
about the relationship between the boy and his father. Consider whether
this experience is likely to affect their relationship in any way. If so, how?

a days wait

473

Vocabulary in Context
vocabulary practice
Show that you understand the boldfaced words by deciding whether each
statement is true or false.
1. If something is evidently true, it has been proven through a series
of experiments.
2. A covey is a place where birds and small mammals go to spend the winter.
3. An epidemic generally affects a large number of people.
4. If you are detached from a situation, you are probably not very concerned
about it.
5. Tightened muscles around someones lips and jaw are typical of a
slack expression.

covey

detached
epidemic
evidently

slack

vocabulary in writing
Think of time when you misunderstood something important that someone
else said. Write a paragraph describing what happened, using at least two
vocabulary words. Here is a sample beginning.
example sentence

At camp I thought I heard, Its time for nights out, but I was evidently wrong.

vocabulary strategy: words for animal groups

There are many names for groups of animals. Some, like the vocabulary word
covey, are used mainly with one or two specific types of animals. Others, like
herd, are used when describing animals in certain categories, such as large
animals that move or feed together (a herd of elephants, a herd of antelope).
Knowing the correct word for an animal group can enrich both your reading
and your writing.
PRACTICE Match each numbered word for an animal group with the type of
animal it is usually associated with. Refer to a dictionary if you need help.
1. pride
2. swarm
3.
4.
5.
6.

474

drove
pack
school
flock

a. cattle
b. fish
c. wolves
d. birds
e. lions
f. bees

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

vocabulary
practice
For more practice, go
to the Vocabulary Center
at ClassZone.com.

Reading-Writing Connection

W1.2, W1.3
86A>;DGC>6

Increase your understanding of A Days Wait by responding to these

prompts. Then complete the Grammar and Writing exercise.

writing prompts

self-check

A. Short Response: Evaluate Characterization

Hemingway wrote, A writer should create living
people; people not characters. Does Hemingway
create real people in A Days Wait? Write a
one-paragraph response, using the characters
thoughts, words, speech patterns, and actions to
support your opinion.

An effective evaluation will . . .

include a clear position
statement

B. Extended Response: Write a Letter

Imagine how Schatz would remember this day 20
years later. Write a two- or three-paragraph letter
from Schatz in which he reminds his father about
the misunderstanding and how it affected him.

A creative response will . . .

summarize the events of
the story

use specific details and

examples from the story
that support the statement

show an understanding of
how the boy felt that day

grammar and writing

MAINTAIN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT A compound subject is made up of
two or more subjects joined by a conjunction, such as and, or, or nor. When
you write a sentence with a compound subject joined by and, you should
usually use a plural verb. When you write a sentence with a compound
subject joined by or or nor, use a verb that agrees in number with the subject
closer to it.
Original:

Because Schatz is constantly worrying, neither the

capsules nor rest seem to help him.

Revised:

Because Schatz is constantly worrying, neither the

capsules nor rest seems to help him.

86A>;DGC>6

LC1.4 Demonstrate the mechanics

of writing (e.g., quotation marks,
commas at end of dependent
clauses) and appropriate English
usage (e.g., pronoun reference).

PRACTICE Choose the verb form that agrees with each compound subject.
1. Parents and children sometimes (have, has) a problem communicating.
2. Often, the parents or the child (get, gets) confused about some
information.
3. In the story, neither the father nor the boy (realize, realizes) the
misunderstanding until later on.
4. Once they understand the problem, the boy and his father (relax, relaxes).
For more help with subject-verb agreement with compound subjects, see
pages R65R66 in the Grammar Handbook.
a days wait

475

Reading for
Information

How Hemingway Wrote

Informative Article

Whats the Connection?

A
ADAYSW
ERNESTH

IT

E M I N G WAY

HILEWEWERESTILL
OSHUTTHEWINDOWSW
CEWAS
ECAMEINTOTHEROOMTOKEDILL(EWASSHIVERINGHISFA
EDTOMOVE
INBEDAND)SAWHELO
SLOWLYASTHOUGHITACH
WHITEANDHEWALKED CHATZv
h7HATSTHEMATTER3
h)VEGOTAHEADACHEv BEDv
h9OUBETTERGOBACKTO
h.O)MALLRIGHTv EYOUWHEN)MDRESSEDv A
FIRELOOKING
h9OUGOTOBED)LLSE STAIRSHEWASDRESSEDSITTINGBYTHE
YHANDONHIS
"UTWHEN)CAMEDOWN
NEYEARS7HEN)PUTM
NDMISERABLEBOYOFNI
 AVERYSICKA
DAFEVER
FOREHEAD)KNEWHEHA SAIDhYOURESICKv
h9OUGOUPTOBEDv) 
h)MALLRIGHTvHESAID EHETOOKTHEBOYSTEMPERATURE
7HENTHEDOCTORCAM IM
h7HATISITv)ASKEDHOv
h/NEHUNDREDANDTW

!.!,9:%6 )35!,3

#ONSIDERTHEEXPRESSION
ONTHISBOYSFACE7HAT
MOODDOESITCONVEY

FFECTIONMEANIN
ERMANTERMOFA
 3CHATZ`Uva`'



UNITMOO DTONEAND

A $)!,/'5%
2EREADTHEDIALOGUEIN
TICETHAT
LINES.O
(EMINGWAYDOESNOT
EREADER
ALWAYSTELLTH
WHOISSPEAKING5SE
YOURCHARTTOKEEP
TRACKOFTHEDIFFERENT
SPEAKERS

ICKNAME
USEDHEREASAN
GMYTREASURE

3TODDARD/ILON

Youve just read a short story by Ernest Hemingway, an author

whose style is so distinct and admired that writers often try to copy
it. Now you will read an informative article that explains how
Hemingway approached writing.

CANVAS

 !LICE+ENT

#ONTEMPLATION

STYLE

Use with A Days Wait,

page 468.

86A>;DGC>6
R2.1 Understand and analyze
the differences in structure and
purpose between various categories
of informational materials (e.g.,
textbooks, newspapers, instructional
manuals, signs).
R2.6 Assess the adequacy, accuracy,
and appropriateness of the authors
evidence to support claims and
assertions, noting instances of bias
and stereotyping.

Skill Focus: Distinguish Fact from Opinion

An opinion is a statement of belief or feeling, such as I think
everyone should read Hemingways stories. A fact is a statement
that can be proved, such as Hemingway wrote 51 stories.
When you read informative articles, its important to distinguish
facts from opinions. If you mistake an opinion for a fact, you run
the risk of basing your conclusions on someones personal beliefs
rather than on provable information. The opinions of experts
can be good sources of information, but you should always know
whether you are reading a fact or an opinion.
As you read Bruce Rettmans article, list the facts in one column
and Rettmans opinions in another. Use the tips on the chart to help
you distinguish facts from opinions.

fact or opinion?
Is it a fact?

Is it an opinion?

Watch Out
Words and phrases often used to state facts:
the fact that, in fact, indeed, the truth is, and
as a matter of fact.
The same words and phrases used to state facts
may be used to disguise opinions as facts.

Watch Out
Words and phrases often
used to express opinions:
I think, I believe, perhaps,
and maybe.

Can I prove it by
consulting a reliable source, such as a print
or online encyclopedia?
interviewing a recognized expert in the field?
checking the statement against what I observe
or know to be true?

Ask yourself:
Can this statement be
debated?
Might people disagree
with the statement?

If the answer is yes . . .

The statement is a fact.

476

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

If the answer is yes . . .

The statement is probably
an opinion.

86A>;DGC>6
F

How Hemingway

Wrote

OCUS ON FORM

How Hemingway
Wrote is an
informative article,
a nonfiction article
written to provide
information or to
explain something
about a topic.

INFORM ATIVE
ARTICLE
Now that you have read
the title, what do you
think this informative
article will explain?

by Bruce Rettman
Hemingway is shown here working on a story.

rnest Hemingway said that

the best writing advice he
ever got came from the writing
guidelines he received as a
young reporter working for the
Kansas City Star. These guidelines began as follows: Use
short sentences. Use short first
paragraphs. Use vigorous English, not forgetting to strive for
smoothness. Anyone who reads
Hemingways simple and direct
sentences built on strong nouns
and verbsnot extravagant
adjectivescan see that he took
those guidelines to heart. b

10

20

30

Hemingways own advice

for becoming a good writer is
also informative. When people
talk, listen completely, said
Hemingway to a young writer.
Dont be thinking what youre
going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe.
In other words, Hemingway
advises young writers to
write from life, blending fact
and fiction. The short story
A Days Wait, for example,
is based on an actual time
when Hemingways first child
had a fever.

b DISTINGUISH FACT

FROM OPINION
To check whether
the statements in lines
116 are accurate, who
might you contact or
what source might you
consult?

reading for information

477

40

c DISTINGUISH FACT

50

FROM OPINION
Is the last sentence in
this paragraph a fact, an
opinion, or an experts
opinion? Give reasons for
your answer.

60

d DISTINGUISH FACT

FROM OPINION
Which statement in this
paragraph might people
disagree about?

478

So, are you getting a sense of

how Hemingway approached
writing? Well, theres still more
to learn from Hemingways
manuscripts. Ive studied them
to learn how he wrote his stories. Ive paid particular attention to his revisions to see how
they changed the meaning of a
story. What Ive discovered is
the surprising fact that his revisions were more often additions
than cuts. He added details for
clarity and depth. Like a painter,
Hemingway added to his canvas until the picture was how he
wanted it. From this observation
I would suggest that to approach
writing as Hemingway did, you
could start with the bare minimum and build, going back over
your writing to see where details
might add interest and clarity. c
Theres another piece of
information you need to have to
begin to understand Hemingways approach to writing. In
Hemingways stories, dialogue
is very important. For example,
in A Days Wait, after the doctor
takes the boys temperature, the
brief exchange that occurs between the doctor and the boys
father is what triggers the boys
day of suffering:

unit 4: mood, tone, and style

What is it? I asked him.

One hundred and two.
At times Hemingway cut his
description of a characters
thoughts in order to rely more
heavily on dialogue.
You might also want to keep
in mind Hemingways other bit
of advice to a young writer: Get
in somebody elses head for a
change. If I bawl you out, try to
figure what Im thinking about
80 as well as how you feel about it.
In other words, try to see every
event from all sides.
Now, perhaps, you are ready
to start writing stories of your
own. Of course, you have to
have something to write about.
Hemingways
life
experiences were a rich source of
material. He was a fisherman
90 and a hunter, went to bullfights,
and experienced both World
War I and World War II. He
lived in Europe, Cuba, and
different parts of the United
States. Im not suggesting that
you need to do similar things.
Just embrace life. Then, maybe, after a timeand if you
follow all this adviceyou
100 can be a successful writer like
Hemingway. d
70

Reading for Information

Comprehension

86A>;DGC>6

1. Recall Hemingway is known for writing what kinds of sentences?

R2.1 Understand and analyze

the differences in structure
and purpose between various
categories of informational
materials (e.g., textbooks,
newspapers, instructional
manuals, signs).

2. Clarify What actual event in Hemingways life helped inspire

A Days Wait?

Critical Analysis

R2.6 Assess the adequacy,

accuracy, and appropriateness of
the authors evidence to support
claims and assertions, noting
instances of bias and stereotyping.

3. Distinguish Fact from Opinion Review the facts and opinions you
identified in the informative article. Then identify one of each, and
explain why you identified it as you did.
4. Identify Topic Sentences A topic sentence is one that tells what a
paragraph is about. Not all paragraphs have a topic sentence, but
when it is present, it is often the first or second sentence in the
paragraph. Identify three topic sentences in this informative article.
5. Evaluate an Informative Article A strong informative article is easy
to follow, interesting, and useful. Would you say that How Hemingway
Wrote is a strong informative article? Explain.

Read for Information: Create Instructions for Writers

writing prompt
In the informative article you just read, Bruce Rettman explains how to
approach writing as Ernest Hemingway did. Now use these ideas to create
a set of instructions for writers. To help explain your instructions, include
examples from A Days Wait or Rettmans article.

To answer this prompt, do as follows:

1. Scan Rettmans article to find six things
a person can do to approach writing as
Hemingway did.
2. Arrange the six directions in a logical order.
3. Illustrate at least two or three of these
directions with examples from A Days
Wait or Rettmans article.

Direction s
1. Use simple an
d
direct senten ce
s
built on strong
nouns and verb
s.
2.
3.
4.

reading for information

479